For those who think the DCL food is "meh" - The DIS Discussion Forums

es45 · 11-10-2009, 11:21 AM

What do you think of Palo?

kcashner · 11-10-2009, 11:26 AM

Palo is wonderful.

JohnO · 11-10-2009, 11:41 AM

Palo is fantastic

KSandbergFL · 11-10-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by es45

What do you think of Palo?

My wife and I are somewhat "food snobs". She is not a pro, but does follow the "Jacque Pepin method" and cooks dishes at home that could put many chefs to shame. We have a hard time finding restaurants we like, because (in our opinion) my wife cooks way better versions at home.

That being said... we found the food at Palo's to be prepared and presented well, a noticeable level above the food in the regular dining rooms. However, it doesn't approach the flavor/quality we expected... there was no "wow, this is so good I think I died and went to heaven" moment for us.

My personal opinion is that it's because no open flames are allowed upon a cruise ship. Some dishes just can't be prepared "right" unless they are cooked over an open flame. Can an item truly be labeled as "grilled" if it wasn't cooked over a nice big fire?

I would love to hear from a professional chef on the matter.... how does gas versus electric/convection affect your ability to cook?

On the positive side - the ambience and service at Palo's are EXCELLENT. You will certainly enjoy your dinner there.

TifffanyD · 11-10-2009, 12:04 PM

I do like the dining room food and I thought Palo was very good. But I agree with PP that I didn't get the WOW factor that others have spoken of. I think I expected more. The pizza was very good, my entree was a special that was very good, and dessert was pretty to very good. But nothing was super FANTASTIC. Oh and the bread was kind of "meh". Service was great! But I love the main dining rooms too and missed them

Selket · 11-10-2009, 12:32 PM

The way people go on about it I was expecting something substantially different than what I've had in the dining rooms on DCL but .... it really wasn't all that awesome. The service was OK but not a "wow" there either.

The price isn't bad for a nice adult dinner but I really wouldn't do it for the amazing awesome food - which is not amazing or awesome - IMHO.

safetymom · 11-10-2009, 01:12 PM

I have done Palo several times trying to get the experience that many on here report. Still haven't had it. We are done trying the dinner. We did enjoy the brunch.

Think it is overhyped here on the DIS. I have had better dining experiences elsewhere.

MouseMomx2 · 11-10-2009, 01:13 PM

We are among those that like the food in the main dining rooms, but Palo just didn't wow us. In fact, we have agreed that we'll skip it on future sailings. We'll still do Palo Brunch, but dinner was just nothing special to us. Again, it was fine...just (as others have said) no Wow factor.

sharen24 · 11-10-2009, 01:27 PM

We had an excellent experience at Palo. We ordered a bottle of Far Niente and allowed our server to surprise us with a customized meal taylored to our wine. Unfortunately, that server is no longer on the Magic

.

ga9497 · 11-11-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSandbergFL

My wife and I are somewhat "food snobs". She is not a pro, but does follow the "Jacque Pepin method" and cooks dishes at home that could put many chefs to shame. We have a hard time finding restaurants we like, because (in our opinion) my wife cooks way better versions at home.

That being said... we found the food at Palo's to be prepared and presented well, a noticeable level above the food in the regular dining rooms. However, it doesn't approach the flavor/quality we expected... there was no "wow, this is so good I think I died and went to heaven" moment for us.

My personal opinion is that it's because no open flames are allowed upon a cruise ship. Some dishes just can't be prepared "right" unless they are cooked over an open flame. Can an item truly be labeled as "grilled" if it wasn't cooked over a nice big fire?

I would love to hear from a professional chef on the matter.... how does gas versus electric/convection affect your ability to cook?

On the positive side - the ambience and service at Palo's are EXCELLENT. You will certainly enjoy your dinner there.

My DH is a chef and he totally agrees with you on every point
Do we enjoy Palo? Yes - will we go back? Yes but it isn't a wow factor for us
We normally skip it on shorter cruises

MinnesotaMouseketeers · 11-23-2009, 05:13 PM

My DW and I loved Palo.

DisneyTrek · 11-24-2009, 06:45 PM

All these people saying that Palo is no longer on their "must-do" list makes me smile. We love Palo!! The service has ALWAYS been impeccible and the food is way, way above the other restaurants.

So, it just boils down to this: Less people going, more availability options for us!!

Of course, this is just my humble opinion.

bevtoy · 11-24-2009, 08:02 PM

This cruise we are trying the brunch.... I hear lots of good things about that. I will probably have the lamb again when we have supper there.

11-10-2009, 11:21 AM	#1
es45 DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Morrisville, NC Posts: 1,394	For those who think the DCL food is "meh" What do you think of Palo? __________________ Elizabeth Last edited by es45; 11-10-2009 at 11:32 AM.

11-10-2009, 11:41 AM	#3
JohnO Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Summerville, SC ( 392 Mi from WDW) Posts: 466	Palo is fantastic __________________ WDW & DCL Sept. 09 Trip Report 1977 - Disneyland, 1989 - Disneyland, 1994 - WDW All Star Sports, 1995 - WDW Old Key West, 1998 - WDW Holiday Inn Maingate, 1999 - WDW Off Property, 2006 - WDW All Star Movies 2/8 -2/16, 2007 - WDW Pop Century 2/4 - 2/14, 2007- WDW All Star Music 9/11 - 9/17, 2008 - WDW All Star Movies 10/27 - 10/30, 2008 - DCL Disney Wonder 10/20 - 11/2, 2009 - WDW All Star Movies 9/21 - 9/27, 2009 - DCL Disney Wonder 9/27 - 10/1, 2010- WDW Off Prop 4/23 - 4/25, 2010 7nt Estrn Cruise Disney Magic10/23 - 10/30, WDW CSR 10/30 - 11/2, 2012- WDW POR 1/8 - 1/15

11-10-2009, 12:04 PM	#5
TifffanyD Tifff Too Close Boo Boo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa, FL - an hourish from the mouse! Posts: 6,423	I do like the dining room food and I thought Palo was very good. But I agree with PP that I didn't get the WOW factor that others have spoken of. I think I expected more. The pizza was very good, my entree was a special that was very good, and dessert was pretty to very good. But nothing was super FANTASTIC. Oh and the bread was kind of "meh". Service was great! But I love the main dining rooms too and missed them __________________ To Aulani and Beyond - A Hawaiian Pre and Post Trip Report Coming up: Aulani & NCL Pride of America (6/7-21/13), Disneyland - VGC in Fall 2013 (Nov 2-9), RCCL Freedom of the Seas in the Ben & Jerry 'Sweet' (1/26/14-2/2/14), *hoping for* London in Summer 2014, DCL Magic Southern Caribbean (10/11-18/2014)

11-10-2009, 12:32 PM	#6
Selket Yes I AM being whiney about not getting a postcard! I will measure, nest, lift and squeeze Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: MD, USA Posts: 3,326	The way people go on about it I was expecting something substantially different than what I've had in the dining rooms on DCL but .... it really wasn't all that awesome. The service was OK but not a "wow" there either. The price isn't bad for a nice adult dinner but I really wouldn't do it for the amazing awesome food - which is not amazing or awesome - IMHO. __________________ Carol G. Off-site lots; POFQ 2000, AKL 2003, CR and CSR 2005, POR 2006, CSR and ASMu 2007; POFQ & CR (MK view!) 2008; CSR & BC 2009, CSR & POFQ 2011, POR 2012, AAR & CSR 2013 DCL: Oct Western, 2007, Sept. 28, 2008 Western; Universal: HRH, 2010

11-10-2009, 01:27 PM	#9
sharen24 DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 986	We had an excellent experience at Palo. We ordered a bottle of Far Niente and allowed our server to surprise us with a customized meal taylored to our wine. Unfortunately, that server is no longer on the Magic.

11-10-2009, 11:26 AM	#2
kcashner DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 33,275	Palo is wonderful.

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11-10-2009, 01:12 PM	#7
safetymom Have will travel ABD trips = clothes optional Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Now living near the parks! Posts: 41,877	I have done Palo several times trying to get the experience that many on here report. Still haven't had it. We are done trying the dinner. We did enjoy the brunch. Think it is overhyped here on the DIS. I have had better dining experiences elsewhere.

11-10-2009, 01:13 PM	#8
MouseMomx2 DIS Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,340	We are among those that like the food in the main dining rooms, but Palo just didn't wow us. In fact, we have agreed that we'll skip it on future sailings. We'll still do Palo Brunch, but dinner was just nothing special to us. Again, it was fine...just (as others have said) no Wow factor.

11-23-2009, 05:13 PM	#11
MinnesotaMouseketeers DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Stillwater, Minnesota, USA Posts: 1,719	My DW and I loved Palo. __________________ Disneyland 1975, Off site/Big Red Boat 1987, Port Orleans/Wonder 1999, Off site 2000, Poly/Wonder 2004, CBR/Eastern Magic 2007, WL 2009, GF/Wonder Panama Canal 2011, POR 2012, AKL/Dream 2013, AofA/Fantasy Eastern 2014 More fun stops: CA-San Fran. & wine country, NM-twice (all over), AZ-twice including Grand Canyon, CO-all over, SD-Black Hills & Badlands, MI-UP, Isle Royale & Mount Pleasent, TX-S. Padre Island twice and San Antonio, WI-All over including Apostale Islands, IA-Quad City area, WY-Devils Tower, AK-Kantishna Roadhouse at Denali NP, Anchorage, Seward, MT-Glacier NP, Ireland 2012, BWCA 2013 (sixth trip)

11-24-2009, 06:45 PM	#12
DisneyTrek Beam me up, Mickey!!! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Winter Garden, FL Posts: 212	All these people saying that Palo is no longer on their "must-do" list makes me smile. We love Palo!! The service has ALWAYS been impeccible and the food is way, way above the other restaurants. So, it just boils down to this: Less people going, more availability options for us!! Of course, this is just my humble opinion. __________________ 3-Night Bahamas Cruise - Disney Wonder - September 2002 3-Night Bahamas Cruise - RCCL Sovereign of the Seas - Feb/Mar 2003 3-Night Bahamas Cruise - Disney Wonder - June 2004 11-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise - Disney Wonder - Sept 2006 4-Night Bahamas Cruise - Disney Wonder - July 2009 14-Night Westbound Transatlantic Cruise - Disney Magic - Sept/Oct 2010 3-Night Bahamas Cruise - Disney Dream - March-April 2011 2-Night New York Weekend Getaway Cruise - Disney Magic - June 2012 5-Night New York to Canada Cruise - Disney Magic - June 2012 3-Night Bahamas Cruise - Disney Dream - September 2012 4-Night Bahamas Cruise - Disney Dream - April 2013

11-24-2009, 08:02 PM	#13
bevtoy bevs_toy Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vandalia, Illinois Posts: 3,705	This cruise we are trying the brunch.... I hear lots of good things about that. I will probably have the lamb again when we have supper there. __________________ Your link to Graphics for cruise magnets: http://www.disboards.com/showthread....5#post41581715 Oct. 1996 Land/Sea Premiere Bahama Oceanic PCL October 1998 Disney World 7 Night Eastern Magic, October 13-20, 2007 7 Night Western Magic December 12-19, 2009

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